Friday, March 17, 2017
Vol. 93, No.28
FOUNDED 1923
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LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED
Great chefs PAGE 30 n Tomorrow’s Hope PAGE 22
School tax levy hike of 1.35% sought for next year
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY
BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
At its February meeting the Garden City Board of Education discussed anticipated administrative and capital components of the 20172018 school year budget, which as constituted includes a tax levy hike of 1.35 percent, the maximum allowed under this year’s tax cap. Last year Garden City’s levy was 1.26 percent, under a maximum 1.54 percent allowed. The district explains that its cap must rise due to the impact of the LIPA PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) for 2016-’17 and continuing for next year, as well as the local tax base growth factor at a period when it appears “Garden City is pretty much built out, with not many places to build something new and expand the property” according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen. Over the past five school budget years, including for next year, the average tax levy cap has been close to 1.25 percent. The overall proposed budget for Garden City Public Schools’ next See page 26
Andy Foundation, Rec Comm ponder future of Yard Sale BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
Ceili group dancing team from the Doherty Petri School of Irish Dancing, which includes several Garden City girls. The school’s dancers have been entertaining at St. Patrick’s Day events throughout the region. See page 46.
Rethinking college admissions at GCPL
BY RIKKI N. MASSAND The highly competitive college admissions process is a constantly evolving effort, often leaving high school students and their families feeling harried and anxious for months if not years leading up to schools’ ultimate decisions. But at a free seminar this coming Monday, March 20 at 6:45pm in the Garden City
Public Library, professional admissions advisor Michael Binder will attempt to refresh applicants’ and families’ perspectives by showing them the most efficient route to getting into colleges and ultimately getting the most out of the investment in a four-year degree program. Binder is the founder of Your College Navigator, LLC. He primarily presents at pub-
lic libraries and meets families from top Long Island school districts including Garden City, Manhasset, Great Neck, Hewlett-Woodmere, Jericho, Syosset, as well as at the Roslyn Jewish Community Center. He has presented at the Garden City Public Library twice a year for each of the past seven years, becoming well-acquainted with the former young adult See page 41
The annual Andy Foundation Yard Sale, which draws mass community support and substantial fundraising for charity, will be held on Saturday, May 13 from 9 am to 2 pm at the Fieldhouse at St. Paul’s. But with fees rising for the rental of the prime and now renovated recreational facility, talk has turned to the future of the event in Garden City. Early on in 2017 organizers Jill Palmeri and Amy McGoldrick of The Andy Foundation found out about an exponential rate increase for the venue of the annual Yard Sale. The Village of Garden City Parks and Recreation department outlined new facility rental fees commensurate with the facilities’ investment in its Strategic Plan, a blueprint way forward to upgrade infrastructure and Parks’ operations while securing returns on investment. The Board of Commissioners of Recreation and Cultural Affairs hosted Palmeri and McGoldrick at their February 16 meeting to discuss the context of the rate hike. Kevin Ocker, chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Recreation and Cultural Affairs (the village’s Recreation Commission for short) had an initial conversation with Palmeri and McGoldrick in early February and then relayed their concern to his board. They decided to offer – for a limited time of just May 2017 and perhaps 2018 – the same discounted package extended to the Jay Gallagher Lacrosse tournament of 50 percent the targeted fee, what See page 26
GCAA Intramural basketball championship games PAGES 60-61 Meet Garden City’s robots (and the teams behind them) PAGE 19